Sacramento County
Biographies
THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG
THOMAS H. ARMSTRONG.--The ancestry of this business man, Thomas H.
Armstrong, is traced back to an old New England
family. Grandfather Armstrong crossed
the plains to California from Illinois in 1849 while still a lad, braving the
dangers with a true pioneer spirit; he returned East in 1851 and was married
there, and outfitting at St. Joseph, Mo., he returned to California, with his
bride. They had many skirmishes with the
Indians and lost much of their outfit.
He settled in Eldorado
County, where he teamed to the mines, then went
to Placer County,
where he mined and engaged in logging.
He came to Sacramento County
in 1902, and here he farmed and teamed, passing away in August, 1904. The grandmother died in Iowa
in 1898. They had eleven children, among
whom were the following: George W. Armstrong was for a number of years
the county clerk of Placer County
and died while in office. Le Roy
Armstrong was prominent in educational circles and was principal of the Alameda
school. He was editor of the “State
School Journal” and is now with the United States Book Company of Los
Angeles.
Thomas H. Armstrong was born in Grass
Valley, Cal., June 21, 1890, a
son of Frank Perry and Maggie (Halligan)
Armstrong. Frank Perry Armstrong was
born in Placer County
and became well-known as an athlete for many years, holding the championship as foot racer for northern California;
an uncle of our subject for many years was district attorney of Nevada
County. Both parents are living in Sacramento
and father and son are in partnership in the brokerage business in the capital
city. Thomas H. Armstrong was educated
in the public schools, and took a course in business. For a number of years he was engaged in the
building business; he was foreman of the cement work on the tower at the state
fair grounds; also the Sacramento Hotel and the Travelers’ Hotel. Mr. Armstrong has also been interested in
agriculture and at the present tie owns a small ranch of five acres near the
city.
The marriage of Mr. Armstrong
united him with Miss Mary Hetherington and they are the parents of one
daughter, Agnes. Mr. Armstrong has
liberal ideas regarding the political inclinations of officeholders, and
believes that principle rather than party should win. Fraternally he is affiliated with the
Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows and is an active and prominent member of the
Eagle Lodge of Sacramento, having charge of the Sacramento Eagle Drum Corps and
is also past state president of California
field music for the Eagle Lodge of California and a member in many civic
organizations.
Transcribed
by Priscilla Delvinthal.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History
of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 555-56.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 P. J. Delventhal.